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Holy war over health care law?

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    Overhaul raises questions on separation of church and state

  • Duration 8:24
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The decision was made -- as we have said in the past and sectors millions of said.

After very can -- careful consideration.

And the administration believes that this proposal strikes the appropriate balance between respecting religious beliefs.

And increasing access to important preventive services we will continue to work closely with religious groups.

During this transitional period to discuss their concerns when -- Push people of faith and you tell them that the government is gonna knock down the -- separation of church and state and reach and overreach like the Obama administration.

You got a war on your hands the culture war is that an apex.

Let's bring in our panel Peter Johnson junior a Fox News legal analyst -- IR AEA Spiro.

He's president of caucus for America and father Gerald Marie.

-- gentlemen thank you also much you know and it does sound like a joking that you gotta admit in our rabbi or priest and a lawyer joining us but we're doing it now for an important reason you heard Bill Donohue.

Talk about how do you gotta -- your hands.

And you heard the administration yesterday say we struck the appropriate balance.

They've given the Catholic Church yeah till August to comply with this new mandate that says about the church.

But religious institutions Catholic universities Catholic hospitals.

They have to cover contraception now for their employees with no co pay.

And it led to the bishops now in this setting up this edict over the week that had -- standing up in maps.

Reading to -- to their congregants that this letter saying this is wrong and we're not gonna comply with the law.

Let us would you rabbi -- go beyond the Catholic issue.

Oh absolutely religious freedom the First Amendment that's why this country was founded.

If this particular situation it's the Catholics are that are under assault the religious freedom.

But what she was all religious freedom by saying that the government -- nationalized program has prerogative over religious freedom then it will extend beyond this particular captive situation it will affect the Jewish people Protestant organizations and far more than that.

Other Murray -- your reaction to the to the White House stance and that's against reiterating yesterday they say they they're striking the appropriate balance between respecting religious police.

And increasing access to important preventative services.

If this is how they respect religion I'd be afraid of how they would attack it.

Quite frankly this is outrageous you're trying to tell the bishops the United States how to run the church -- what services to offer to employees.

-- kneecap the university it's got to pay for sterilization.

Aboard a facial drugs and contraception.

This isn't how this country was founded as a rabbi said religion is not a problem religions on the foundational benefits we have in this country free exercise.

You know that the White House cannot yesterday -- and said there's no constitutional problem here there is no problem with a lot so this is just a moral debate -- look.

This carefully and I would suggest that it is a moral debate.

It is a cultural debate -- moreover it's a constitutional.

Violation this is an excessive entanglement.

With the Catholic faith and other faiths.

And it's designed really to impede.

In infringe upon the free exercise.

Of religion when you tell -- faith.

That you must under compulsion of law.

Do abortion drugs that you have to sterilize it could be women yes give people drugs that will cause the death of the fetus.

Then you're saying you need to act.

In a way -- consonant with our will is a government but against you have desires and your belief as of faith and that on its face is on constant.

They say you know -- -- father 98% of even Catholic women -- contraception so what's the big deal.

-- -- big deal as the temperature -- that's wrong and you know morality is not determined by a vote.

So for the government to come in and say as a religion your teaching morality is no longer valid you have to suspended have to do we say.

That's a constitutional problem that's undermining this country.

It doesn't have to be some -- that the administration that a government can draw a rabbi where they say we need to protect certain rights of the masses despite the teachings.

Of the church or the temple is synagogue -- -- well first.

Well when you talk about issues such as contraception and abortion these are fundamental.

Applications users centuries millennia -- years old.

And so this is not the area where the government should start to be telling the church how they should -- their theology but I think beyond all this it does.

Alert us to the danger in nationalize and programs because when the government.

Nationalize as things they think that their value system is more important than the religious values system and that's completely contrary to how this country was founded.

Peter do week does this become a hot button political issue for this president because in the last fifteen presidential elections.

Only three presidents have won the white house -- -- carrying.

The Catholic -- in even liberal.

Democrats who happen to be Catholics have come out and and they're very angry about this.

Great historical fact speculative but we heard the president and Notre Dame spoke about the issue of conscience.

Any -- said I'm gonna recognize the issue of conscience.

It's not up to the federal government to decide.

Who was a Catholic.

Who was Jew who is in Muslim holiday worship where they should worship and what there -- should be doing in terms of example -- that faith.

The compelling government interest does not exist -- going to the legal question you list there needs to be a compelling government interest to overrule them.

Think it's now -- Planned Parenthood advocates those reproductive rights groups that are saying young women need access it it's it's a political.

Interest and to -- say some help we're protecting the rights.

Of women.

And then the Catholic Church is acting in a way that is interrogation of their rights and so we're choosing women over Catholic religious liberty.

That's not a proper choice constitutionally.

Politically it may be a Smart thing for them to do they think they're doing.

In the end I don't think it is you mention what he said -- Notre Dame we have that clip I want to play for short watch that's.

That's out of the conscience of those who disagree with abortion and draft -- sensible conscience clause.

The White House thinks it's done that others conscious clause in its health care law that says if your doctor you know out of government -- that kind of thing is this different than that you feel like he is violating that promise.

Absolutely.

You know there is no exemption for Catholics to to have to give out stuff that they don't approve and forcing the government's hand on religion is itself as the premises that's a universal principle that is odious.

This country was not found is so that the federal government to -- religions how to run their operations.

Do you see this going away anytime soon -- you think.

People of faith are gonna come together on this regardless of the -- I hope so because what's at issue here is not only religious freedom.

But I think many of my colleagues in the in the liberal frustration.

Who found that economically.

A socialism is acceptable they're -- gonna be woken up to the fact that socialism has an agenda far beyond economic it has its own value system that said that really.

We're against distinctions of any type and religion is certainly threatened with such an outlook such a perspective because it religions there are distinctions.

And we can't allow the government to a race that so I think that this is an indictment.

That might.

-- left Winger liberal clergy who liked -- economic plans of socialism should realize the ultimate danger that goes beyond the economic agenda socialist.

I got I wanna ask you -- if if the White House hasn't backed out we world the Catholic Church fathers should this be decided in the courts and if the if they do try and find a Catholic institution for not offering health care.

I'm sure that we're not gonna pay the fine I mean this is defining we do not let the government tell us how to run the Catholic Church.

The courts will decide I predicted new -- of Civil Disobedience.

In this country.

Is he going to be take occupying -- reducing the father OK okay that -- I don't -- but that's at.

Think he'll be dignified but I think people are standing up there right suspicions about public -- -- -- Thank you have so much for being here we appreciate it thank you all of us to.

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